발트 3국의 언어정책

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze and compare language policies in Baltic 3 Staes. Baltic 3 states gained independence of nation after 1st World War and werebuilding ethnocentric nations. But USSR occupied and absorbed 3 states in 1940. From this time the 3 Baltic States had been ruled and controlled by Soviet centralgovernment, but in late 1980s with president of USSR Gorbačev's Perestroikaand Galsnost' this 3 states pursued regain some autonomy, so they made lawon language (law on state language). Baltic 3 countries, which consist of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania showed alarge change after independence in the mid-1991 in the ethnic distribution dueto increase of indigenous peoples and reduction of Russian users. This resultedfrom the policies of the independent countries, which are fundamentallydifferentiated from those of the Soviet Union in order to recover destroyed industry,to demarcate the border, and to protest Stalin’s ethnic purges and the relocationpolicy. There are still many numbers of Russian in Latvia and Estonia and theystill speak Russian, but on the other hand, Russian people are minor in Lithuania. Both the Constitution and language laws (national language law) of Baltic statesacknowledge only an indigenous language as a national language, not mentioningand considering Russian. Russian users in Latvia argue that Russian languageshould be granted as the second language of the state but the resistance was rejectedby referendum results. This kind of complaint is not represented in Lithuaniadue to the assimilation policy and minority of Russian people. In addition to legal provisions, Baltic countries have taken the position that the role of the Russian language should be minimized, and therefore Russianschools are significantly decreased and people in the countries started to feelunfriendly and hostile towards Russia. The nationality legislation makes Russian people to follow the law or to leavethe country, and rules out the Russian language use. Also it is difficult to acquirenationality and citizenship guarantees in Latvia and Estonia, but it is flexible in Lithuania. Russian faces threats and challenges, but in Latvia and Estonia, there are stillmany Russian residents who needs special attention from Russia to preventRussian-speaking regions from being reduced. In case of Lithuania, it faces morecomplex situations so that Russian would be used only at home, only within aclosed Russian community for a daily life. Thus Russian proficiency of younggeneration should be improved in terms of popularization and qualitativeimprovement. Especially considering high-quality of Russian proficiency and its wide use, Latvia and Estonia could establish Russian as the official language of the country or region, but it is almost impossible with the current language policy.